Source, path, and breath for our life
September is a very special month for all of us Catholics, the “Month of the Word of God.” It is a time when the Church, as a wise mother and teacher, reminds us that the Bible is not just another book, but the beating heart of our faith, the mirror in which the face of Christ is reflected, and the lamp that illuminates our path (cf. Ps 119:105).
During this time, dioceses, their respective parishes, and communities take on a special character: Bible study groups, Lectio Divina retreats, special catechesis for children and young people, prayer meetings, workshops, and other programs. All with a single objective: that the Word may become flesh within us . That, like Mary, we may say each day: “Let it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38).
The Word: a God who draws near
The Bible is more than a text; it is God's eternal embrace of humanity. In its pages, God himself walks with us, revealing himself as the Way that guides, the Truth that illuminates, and the Life that fulfills (cf. Jn 14:6). We do not read it to accumulate facts, but to allow ourselves to be transformed. Scripture is living, effective, and sharper than any sword (cf. Heb 4:12), because it penetrates to the very depths of the heart and leads us to conversion.
Saint Jerome, whose memory inspires this month, expressed it radically: “Whoever is ignorant of the Scriptures is ignorant of Christ.” To know the Bible is to know Jesus; to ignore it is to distance ourselves from Him. Therefore, this month is an opportunity to reopen that book we may have left on the shelf, and allow its words to rekindle our faith.
Walking oriented towards the Word
Blessed James Alberione taught us that the Bible must be our primary teacher and the source of all evangelization. Just as the Apostle Paul lived it, declaring, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16), we feel the zeal to bring the Good News to every corner of the earth, using every possible means. But to proclaim it, we must first allow it to dwell within us , to form in us the mind of Christ (cf. Philippians 2:5).
Reading the Bible is not a cold duty, but an act of love : the love of one who wants to hear the Beloved each day. It is drinking from the spring so as not to become spiritually dehydrated. It is lighting the lighthouse before setting sail. It is filling one's heart with the Gospel so that one can then give it to the world.
How to live in constant dialogue with the Word?
There are countless ways to open ourselves to the action of the Word, but they all begin with the same gesture: listening with our hearts. Here are some specific recommendations:
- Daily and leisurely reading, letting a verse resonate throughout the day.
- Lectio Divina, to pray, to delve deeper into Scripture and to bring it to life.
- Prayer with the Psalms, joining in the same praise that Jesus prayed.
- Community Bible study, to better understand the context and its message.
- Participate attentively in the liturgy of the Word, listening as if it were the first time.
The key is to always invoke the Holy Spirit before opening the Bible. Only He can ignite within us the light necessary to understand, embrace, and live what we read.
Mary, model of a biblical heart
In Mary, the Word found fertile ground. She listened, pondered, and treasured all these things in her heart (cf. Lk 2:19). She not only knew the Scriptures, but she lived them. The Word became flesh in her womb because it had first become life in her soul. This is what Bible Month desires for us: that the Word may penetrate our lives so deeply that it transforms our thoughts, words, and actions .
A time to grow together
At Paulinas, we want to accompany you on this journey of love for the Word. Therefore, we offer you resources that can help you live this month intensely:
- Biblical games and activities for catechesis and youth ministry.
- Coloring books that bring the Bible closer to children in a creative way.
- Meditations and guides for Lectio Divina for personal and communal prayer.
- Popular Missal with the Lectio and liturgy for each day.
- Texts and reflections on the Old and New Testaments.
- Psalms and prayers to nourish your dialogue with God.
May this month of September not be just another month, but a renewing encounter with Christ the Word. And may we, as a community of believers, live out what Saint Paul wrote to the Colossians: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col 3:16).
Because when God speaks, and the heart listens, the whole of life becomes a living Gospel.
Prayer
Jesus Truth: Revealing Word
Jesus, Divine Teacher, we adore you as the incarnate Word,
sent by the Father to teach the world
the truths that give life.
You are the uncreated Truth, the only Master;
Only you have the words of eternal life.
Thank you for having ignited something within us.
the light of reason and faith,
And to have called us all into the light of glory.
We adhere with all our minds to you and the Church;
We reject everything the Church rejects.
Master, show us the treasures of your wisdom,
Let us know the Father, make us your true disciples.
Increase our faith, so that we may come to behold you.
eternally in heaven.
Amen.
